JEFFERSON TWP — School board members at South Butler School District got an earful Wednesday from several parents who say they’re concerned about a pattern of staff and program cuts in the district during the past four years.

The comments came as the retirement of orchestra teacher Bonnie Myers-Toward, a district mainstay with decades of experience running the schools’ strings program, approaches and parents wonder whether she will be replaced.

That question found a partial answer Wednesday, with district officials saying they did not intend to eliminate any music course offerings next year. But parents said that assurance didn’t assuage their concerns about the district’s long-term plans for the position.

Penn Township resident Deanna Golden, a professional musician and music teacher herself, said she’s been unmoved by the district’s arguments for staff and program cuts — particularly when it comes to South Butler’s music department, which she called the district’s “strategic advantage.”

Golden said she believed the district would set itself up for failure by cutting back on music education, as parents increasingly shop for school districts with the most options for their children.

“In my immediate neighborhood, parents have enrolled their children in 11 different schools, not counting Knoch,” she said. “That is a lot of lost tuition. South Butler needs to protect its share of the market.”

Lynne and Adam Mercer said they were concerned about a variety of issues — from Myers-Toward’s impending retirement to the way the district is handling its ongoing contract negotiations with the teachers union.

The Mercers said they found the online updates posted on the district’s website to be “biased,” and want them to be revised or removed.

“The negative ongoing relationship between school leadership and teachers, and the enduring inability to settle a teachers contract produces a toxic environment for all involved, including our students,” said Lynne Mercer.

The Mercers said they also not convinced by the argument that the district must trim staff and course offerings because of budget concerns. They pointed to administrative and noneducational spending, such as the $45,000 the district will pay for drug testing students who participate in activities or drive to school, as an example of money they’d rather see go toward education.

“We agree. You have a responsibility to the taxpayer,” said Adam Mercer. “Increase the value of my property and give my child an education that needs no apology.”

The comments came during the board’s work session Wednesday night, and Superintendent David Zupsic took issue with claims the district had cut programs in recent years.

‘We didn’t cut anything last year,” Zupsic said. “No classes were cut.”

Following Golden’s remarks, Zupsic also read a short statement saying:

“The orchestra program will be directed by a highly qualified, full-time strings teacher, and all of the current course offerings will continue,” Zupsic said. “There will be no cuts.”

The parents were joined Wednesday by 11th grader Gracie Smith, a drum major and jazz pianist at South Butler, who said she was concerned that her two younger siblings wouldn’t get to experience the music programs that helped her decide to attend South Butler, and have since helped her decide to pursue a career in music.

“I want my brother and sister to experience the same things that brought me here,” Smith said. “I don’t know that I would want to go into music if it weren’t for Knoch.”

After the meeting, parents said they were referring to the district eliminating its French language course offerings three years ago, and to staffing cuts last year in the physical education and art departments, which they view as emblematic of the board’s preoccupation with keeping tax rates low regardless of the impact to the district’s course offerings and staffing levels.

“They’re trying to do the least they can,” Golden said.

The parents also expressed skepticism about Zupsic’s statement Wednesday, and said they’re not convinced the district was committed to replacing Myers-Toward with a qualified instructor capable of meeting the needs of more advanced orchestra students.

“They’re cutting educational opportunities,” said Lynne Mercer.

Zupsic said the district was evaluating multiple options regarding the orchestra position and was planning to update parents after more information becomes available.

Board members adjourned Wednesday’s meeting and went back into an executive session to discuss personnel matters.